Shall this Blog be a channel to express my thoughts to You, my friend.

Nov 8, 2012

Take a risk

Risks are measures of danger. Usually we want to avoid
taking too high risks and prefer playing safe, at least if unaware of what will
eventually happen. Risks have also everything to do with values. It is not a
risk if one is not afraid of losing something valuable. While talking about
risks I have to agree with German sociologist Ulrich Bech who said that people
easily accuse those of perturbation who remind them if the existence and proximity
of disturbing facts, risks or other depressing matters (that they wish not want
to hear). Negativity is best to keep to ourselves because life is more about joy
and catching dreams. I suffer from this disease of being a killjoy: Why do you
always have to be in such a murky mood?, they ask me. And when I try to explain
they ignore my views for being “just too much and just too weird”. Thinking against
the masses is hardly ever easy.

It is obvious that people have both created risks and
ignored them at the same time. The future has been set in jeopardy by actions
made along with bad judgment of risks. Acknowledging dangers has little to do
with proclaiming apocalyptic prophecies or creating unnecessary fear. It is
merely a compulsion for withstanding uncertainty, choosing the right and
necessary decisions and locating your future position. Risks caused are by many
standards long lasting; they are not going to ease or go away anytime soon. The
problem with risks is that while living too focused in the present we usually
forget that we have a future to look after as well. It is in our biological character
not to care about the rights or welfare of the upcoming generations because we
are bound to focus on issues temporally and locally close. In a way it is hard
to imagine people willingly causing trouble to ones like them. Still it is
reprehensible to ignore risks that are both obvious and damaging just by saying
“everything will eventually turn out for the better”. Well, it won’t.

I cannot believe that disdaining the future would be our
only option when all we would have to do is just slightly evolve and develop our
form of thinking. It might take time but there is no other way out really. At the moment we are not ready to face greater
suffering so that we could enjoy or benefit from actions seen dislikable later. This
is because we never think further ahead of our own nose or noses of our
descendants. The distant future feels less realistic than the near future. We
have even a specific risk evaluation in which risks near to us get more
attention than those further away. While our orientation is kept tightly within
close range it is impossible to focus on questions concerning generations to
come. That is why we also make haste and poor decisions which cannot last while
meant only to solve problems on temporary basis. In economics it is fairly
common to leave the real problem be and patch up the wound. As critical economist
Henry Hazlitt says, economy is too often seen only means to provide momentary
interest. We should make economics that stand the test of time and create
lasting good for many instead of a few. Of course we are glad if things turn
out for the better, but it is an operation worth nothing if problems are not
solved for the benefit of those coming after us. For example if we only take actions
which ease the pain but won’t heal the whole disease, the disease will
eventually kill the patient.

People have strong faith on science. “Problems will be
handled over time” is the common belief. This strong optimism may sometimes
blind us and make us disregard our problems that would need our urgent
attention. In the past it was easy to predict risks and learn how to comprehend
changing conditions in our lives. Risks were obvious and controllable. Last 100
years has introduced us a technological boost never experienced before. It has
produced innovations and scientific breakthroughs and enabled rapid cultural
development in a global scale. Now days we are no longer flexible or fast
enough to react to risks - and they have grown beyond our reach. Living safe
usually means taking insurances and making preparations for the worse. The
biggest risks in our lives are not things like an engine bust up, a washing
machine gone broken or even a death of an close friend. We have risks that
concern the whole existence of human kind – and these risks should be in the
center of our personal and global agenda and intention.

We need people who really care about the future of
this planet and its inhabitants. The welfare of others does not necessarily
mean that we need to give up on our own well-being. It means that we have to
try to live like there would be life after we have departed. This also calls
for a strong political will. But before that it calls a reevaluation of our
risks.

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About Me

Concerned world citizen who is worried about the world today, tries to be an all-around activist but so far without actual results. Curious spirit who likes to seek true knowledge and be able to contribute something to others. Sees himself as a philosophic weirdo who can still be friends with everyone.